12 Day Heart Of Colombia Coffee and Culture

Bogota

Day 1: Welcome to Colombia!

Welcome to Bogota!

Arrive at any time - your driver will be waiting to collect you from the airport and take you to your hotel. There are no activities planned for this day, so just relax and drink a lot of water to help you adjust to the altitude.

If you arrive early, you can even go on an additional tour!

La Candelaria - Monserrate

Day 2: See The Sights Of Bogota

You’ll be collected from your accommodation in Bogotá, and taken on a guided excursion where you’ll encounter the most notable historical locations within La Candelaria.

See where the rebellion against the Spanish was first planned; the Palace of Justice; Plaza Bolivar, and many more. Once you have visited these beautiful sites you will have time to ascend to the great height of 10,341 ft (3152m) and the summit of Monserrate - almost 2,000ft higher than Bogotá. For this climb, you have the choice of taking either the teleferico (aerial tramway) or the funicular.

Here you’ll have time to wander through the artisan markets, visit a beautiful 17th-century monastery and enjoy some of the most spectacular panoramic views of the capital city of this great nation.

Zipaquira - Raquira - Villa de Leyva

Day 3: Visit The Zipaquira Salt Mines

You’ll be collected from your hotel in Bogotá and taken directly to the salt mine of Zipaquirá where you’ll uncover the ingenuity of the people who - 590 ft (180 m) underground - converted this ancient salt mine into the amazing church that receives as many as 3000 people every Sunday of the year.

You’ll take a short trip to the town of Zipaquirá where you’ll wander the streets checking out the Grand Plaza (main square), Independence Square and one of the oldest churches you can find in Colombia. Following Zipaquirá, you’ll continue onto the wonderful town of Ráquira.

Next, you'll be arriving at your final destination: Villa de Leyva. Here you’ll take a quick tour with your guide before enjoying a wonderful night walking cobblestone streets with lanterns.

Villa de Leyva - Bogota

Day 4: Explore The Scenic Villa de Leyva

Following breakfast, you’ll enjoy a wonderful tour of the most important locations in and around Villa de Leyva. Your Villa de Leyva tour will include Monasterio Del Santo Eccehomo. Declared part of Colombia’s architectural heritage in 1998, the initial convent was founded in 1620.

This is simply a beautiful monastery built on a hillside and consisting of a wonderful cloister, church, cemetery, and plaza, with wonderful views. Visit The Terracotta House. Explore the largest piece of pottery in the world. Wander through the many rooms taking photos from many angles. This really is quite amazing!

Visit The Fossil Museum. See, touch, and feel the bones of dinosaurs that once ruled this world. After your tour of Villa de Leyva is complete, you’ll start your journey back to Bogotá in the early afternoon, with a photo-stop at the Puente de Boyacá.

Bogota - Salento

Day 5: Travel To Salento Today

Enjoy a morning flight and a transfer to your Finca on the outskirts of Salento.

Once here, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy your surroundings for the remainder of the day.

Perhaps you’d like to visit some beautiful small towns such as Marsella or Pijao and Cordoba.

Cocora Valley - Salento

Day 6: Drive Through Cocora Valley

You will be collected from your finca and taken for a wonderful drive through the Cocora Valley where you will walk through the amazing Wax Palm Forest. You’ll find a sense of peace and belonging here that simply envelops you without you even knowing.

Following this, you’ll enjoy a walking tour of Salento, including the famous Calle Real and up to the mirador (lookout); where you’ll have a sensational view over valleys far below.

Next, you’re off onto a coffee tour in an amazing boutique coffee finca. Here you’ll not only learn the entire process from seed to cup. But you’ll discover how the owner of this finca is one of the few who can create the perfect coffee bean without the use of any machinery.

Filandia - Medellin

Day 7: Relax at the Santa Rosa Thermal Hot Springs

Today you will take a trip to the magical location of the Thermal Hot-Springs of Santa Rosa. Surrounded by a tropical jungle, you’ll walk through and soak up the mineral-rich waters in this amazing setting.

You’ll be wandering through these beautiful grounds and explore the unbelievable waterfall. (Photos just do not do this place justice!) On your return, you have an option to take a bit of a detour and enjoy the amazingly colorful town of Filandia.

If you thought Salento was an exceptionally colorful town with wonderful architecture, you will absolutely love this place!

Medellin

Day 8: Head Over to Historic Medellin

Enjoy a transfer to Pereira airport in style with your Private Willys Jeep taking you to the front door.

On your arrival in Medellín, you will be collected and taken to check-in to your hotel and given a little “me-time” to refresh before being collected for a magnificent city tour.

This will be starting in the Plaza Botero and will include a tram and cable car ride. The complete journey today will be with your expert guide who will explain every part of the good, bad, and the sometimes-ugly history of this fantastic city.

Guatape Rock - Guatape

Day 9: Climb Up Guatape Rock

You’ll be driven through beautiful scenery on to the replica town of Old Peñol. This town was actually flooded and is the bottom of Lake Guatape now. 

After you have walked through this replica town, you’ll carry on to Guatape Rock. Once there, you will have the opportunity to climb the 740 steps to the very top with absolutely breathtaking views every step of the way. Once you’ve risen to the top you’ll have time to catch your breath, relax and take photos before leisurely taking the 740 steps back down again.

After you have returned to the ground, you will be collected and driven to the nearby Guatape Town, where you’ll enjoy a walking tour of the cobblestone streets lined with colorful buildings. Next, you have a choice of making your way back to Medellín or enjoying a boat cruise on lake Guatape itself.

San Rafael

Day 10: Spend Time In A Magical Jardin

Your first stop of the day will be a fantastic succulent farm with over 3000 varieties of exotic plant species. You’ll get to meet the owner who has been running this family farm for over 30 years.

Next stop is a cable car ride (actually four) across lush valleys filled with farms of everything you can image, as well as beautiful trees and rivers. You’ll be making three stops along the way to change cable cars and for more fantastic photos. Following this, you will carry on to the historic town of Santa Fe de Antioquia, where you will enjoy a fantastic guided tour through this beautiful town.

After you have wandered these stone streets and taken many perfect photos, you will continue on to the Western Bridge. Start on your relaxing journey to Jardin.

Jerico - Medellin

Day 11: Start On Your Journey To Jerico

You’ll wake to the sound of the birds or perhaps the church bells in the town square of Jardin. Enjoy a wonderful breakfast and start a fabulous tour of this picturesque town wandering the streets and marveling at the colonial buildings and balconies full of flowers.

Next, you’ll start on your journey to Jerico, another simply breathtaking town, full of amazing scenes straight out of the set of a romantic movie.

You’ll enjoy a wonderful walking tour of this beautiful heritage-listed town, before relaxing in your transport and heading back to Medellín.

Medellin

Day 12: Farewell, Colombia!

Today is your last day. You will have transport waiting to take you to the airport at your desired time. Perhaps you’d like to add a tour to Comuna 13 and discover the amazing transformation this suburb has gone through.

Otherwise, safe travels home, and visit again soon!